Litter stock in a forest in process of restoration after bauxite mining

Abstract The present study had as objective to evaluate the accumulated litter in two environments, a forest under restoration, after the bauxite mining, and a reference ecosystem (remaining secondary forest in a midsuccessional stage), and investigate the relationship between environmental variables (canopy opening, soil compaction, natural regeneration) and litter accumulation in both forests. Thirty plots of 2 × 2 m in each forest were allocated. In the center of each plot, all organic material contained in samples of 0.5 × 0.5 m was collected to obtain the dry mass. There is dissimilarity between the two forests, in relation to the litter stock and other environmental variables evaluated. The forest in restoration presents less litter accumulation than the reference ecosystem. The largest litter accumulation in both forests occurs in sites with higher number of individuals in the natural regeneration layer and in sites with lower soil compaction.